Ophthalmic set for myopia progression control

Abstract

An ophthalmic set for myopia progression control includes a first component suitable for varying an amount of light that has wavelength values included in a modulation spectral range and enters an eye of a user. It further includes a control unit configured for controlling the first component so that light with wavelength values in the modulation spectral range enters the user's eye with varied intensity during daytime. The first component may include light sources and/or spectral filters, in particular arranged so as to be fitted on the user's face during appropriate durations. Preferably, light with wavelength values included between 360 nm and 520 nm, or between 440 nm and 520 nm, is increased in the morning and reduced in the evening.

1 . An ophthalmic set for myopia progression control, comprising:
 first means suitable for varying an amount of light that has wavelength values comprised in a modulation spectral range, and that enters an eye of a user of the ophthalmic set; and   control means configured for controlling the first means within a period from wake-up to bedtime for the user, so that light with wavelength values comprised in the modulation spectral range enters the user's eye with higher intensity during a first duration compared to a second duration, first and second durations forming an intraday time-configuration which is to be reproduced each day the ophthalmic set is used,   
       the modulation spectral range being comprised between 360 nm and 520 nm. 
     
     
         2 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the modulation spectral range is comprised between 440 nm and 520 nm. 
     
     
         3 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the control means are configured so that the first duration starts from wake-up of the user and the second duration ends with bedtime of said user. 
     
     
         4 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprise at least one light source effective in the modulation spectral range, and the control means are configured for activating light emission by the first means selectively during a light-supplementation period having a duration comprised between 15 minutes and 4 hours from the wake-up of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 4 , further comprising a frame to be worn by the user on the user's face, said frame supporting the at least one light source in a manner such that, when worn by the user, at least part of the light produced by said at least one light source enters the user's eye. 
     
     
         6 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 4 , further comprising spectacles to be worn by the user, with two spectacle lenses accommodated in a spectacle frame, and wherein the spectacles have one of the following arrangements:
 light sources are accommodated in the spectacle frame close to a peripheral edge of each spectacle lens, and each spectacle lens is provided with light deflecting or diffusing elements suitable for directing at least part of the light produced by each light source into one of the user's eyes;   light sources are accommodated in the spectacle frame or in temples of said spectacle frame, and arranged so that light produced by said light sources reaches the spectacles lenses, and each spectacle lens is provided with a holographic diffusing layer adapted for directing at least part of said light into one of the user's eyes;   light sources are accommodated in the spectacle frame or in temples of said spectacle frame, and arranged so that light produced by said light sources reaches the spectacles lenses, and each spectacle lens is provided with an holographic layer that has a microlens pattern and is adapted for directing at least part of said light into one of the user's eyes;   light sources are accommodated in the spectacle frame or in temples of said spectacle frame, and arranged so that light produced by said light sources reaches the spectacles lenses, and each spectacle lens is provided with microlenses at a surface of said spectacle lens, or embedded within said spectacle lens or within a film which covers said spectacle lens; or   light sources are comprised of at least one optical brightener dye or fluorescent compound distributed in or on the spectacle lenses, and UV sources are accommodated in the spectacle frame or in temples of said spectacle frame and arranged so that UV radiation produced by said UV sources reaches the spectacles lenses.   
     
     
         7 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 6 , wherein the control means are configured for controlling an emission intensity of the at least one light source in a way such that a visual acuity loss or a vision contrast for the user remains matching a target value as the emission intensity varies. 
     
     
         8 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprise spectral filtering means which have an average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range that is equal to or less than 50%, and the control means are configured to cause the first means to be effective on light that enters the user's eye selectively during a light-dimming period ending with the bedtime of the user and having a duration comprised between 1 hour and 6 hours. 
     
     
         9 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means have another average transmission value assessed over another spectral range from 560 nm to 600 nm, that is less than 70%. 
     
     
         10 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means are comprised of at least one absorbing dye distributed in or on an ophthalmic lens ( 33 ,  34 ) to be worn by the user. 
     
     
         11 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means are comprised in spectacles, or in a clip-on element to be affixed releasably to spectacles worn by the user, or in a patch to be affixed releasably to a spectacle lens worn by the user, and
 the control means comprise alert means configured for informing the user to equip himself with the spectacles, clip-on element or patch when the light-dimming period starts,   or the control means comprise light-measurement means adapted for measuring an intensity of ambient light, and alert means coupled to the light-measurement means and configured for informing the user to equip himself with the spectacles, clip-on element or patch when the intensity of ambient light becomes less than a threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means are electrochromic means capable of switching between a blue-blocking state where the average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range is equal to or less than 50%, and a clear state where said average transmission value is higher than 50%, and
 the control means are configured for switching the electrochromic means into the blue-blocking state when the light-dimming period starts,   or the control means comprise light-measurement means adapted for measuring an intensity of ambient light, and said control means are configured for switching the electrochromic means into the blue-blocking state when the intensity of ambient light becomes less than a threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means are electrochromic means capable of varying between a blue-blocking state where the average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range is equal to or less than 50%, and a clear state where said average transmission value is higher than 50%, and
 the control means are configured for varying the electrochromic means progressively from the clear state to the blue-blocking state during the light-dimming period.   
     
     
         14 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 8 , wherein the spectral filtering means comprise reverse photochromic means such that ambient radiation intensity above a transition threshold causes the reverse photochromic means to be in a clear state, and the ambient radiation intensity being below the transition threshold causes the reverse photochromic means to be in a blue-blocking state, with a transmission value of the reverse photochromic means assessed over the modulation spectral range that is lower in the blue-blocking state compared to the clear state. 
     
     
         15 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the first means comprise at least one light source effective in the modulation spectral range, and the control means are configured for activating light emission by said at least one light source selectively during a light-supplementation period having a duration comprised between 15 minutes and 4 hours from the wake-up of the user, and
 the first means further comprise spectral filtering means which have an average transmission value assessed over the modulation spectral range that is equal to or less than 50%, and the control means are further configured to cause the spectral filtering means to be effective on light that enters the user's eye selectively during a light-dimming period ending with the bedtime of the user and having a duration comprised between 1 hour and 6 hours.   
     
     
         16 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , wherein the control means comprise an activity measurement unit that is configured for determining a wake-up time of the user and the bedtime of said user, and the control means are configured for controlling the first means based on said wake-up time as determined by the activity measurement unit, and/or on bedtime as determined from at least one prior use of the ophthalmic set. 
     
     
         17 . Process for maintaining vision comfort to a person, said process comprising providing said person with the ophthalmic set of  claim 1 , and the person using said ophthalmic set in daily life. 
     
     
         18 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 2 , wherein the control means are configured so that the first duration starts from wake-up of the user and the second duration ends with bedtime of said user. 
     
     
         19 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 2 , wherein the first means comprise at least one light source effective in the modulation spectral range, and the control means are configured for activating light emission by the first means selectively during a light-supplementation period having a duration comprised between 15 minutes and 4 hours from the wake-up of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The ophthalmic set of  claim 3 , wherein the first means comprise at least one light source effective in the modulation spectral range, and the control means are configured for activating light emission by the first means selectively during a light-supplementation period having a duration comprised between 15 minutes and 4 hours from the wake-up of the user.